This blog is the place where I post reviews of the books I have read. I review audiobooks, regular books and eBooks for authors and publishers as well as any other book or audiobook that catches my eye.

~ I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is part of a fictional series that describes what life is like for children with special needs.

Ladybird is a dog; specifically a beagle. Her name was changed to “Ole Lady Bird” as she aged. In this story Lady Bird is ten years old which makes her sixty in human years.

Shawn is Ladybird’s owner. Although it never specifically says so, I believe that Shawn is autistic. He uses his five senses to explore the world around him and Ladybird helps to keep him both safe and calm.

I can honestly say that I have never read a book written as if it being narrated by an autistic boy. At times I found this writing style to be off-putting, but it was always unique. I did find some of the phrasing to be extremely awkward. For example: “My aunt is an anti-dog lover!” In my opinion it would have sounded better just to say: “My Aunt did not like dogs.”

Aside from that I loved the fact that this book is different from any other book I have ever read. I also love the fact that Gracie Bradford has chosen special needs children as her main focus. Education and awareness of the needs of these children is an important issue in today’s society.

Gracie Bradford is the author of three children books about students coping with life changes in an extraordinary way. She was born in Louisiana to a family in which most of her siblings became school teachers. Instead of following her sibling’s career paths, Gracie chose a profession in healthcare. Gracie is now a retired Senior Healthcare Executive and retired Pediatric Dietitian living in Texas.